With recent security issues raised in the news regarding facebook, I thought it a great time to share my thoughts on the social networking goliath.

I was browsing the other day, through the site, through my friends, and it just struck me at how amazingly complicated this website was. It was like running software on your computer with all the intricate settings and options and notifications etc etc. It is incredible to me how robust of a website it is, and how much they let you control in your profile.

It is ridiculous for people to complain about security on websites. If you don’t like the chance of your information possibly being shared, don’t share it at all.  I feel that applies to everything, even online banking. If you don’t like the risk, don’t take it. And if you do take it, don’t complain about it if it doesn’t end up being %100 safe or fool proof. It’s all a part of the game, it’s all a part of the convenience.

Facebook has created an AMAZING tool, which I feel has much more of a benefit to our society than it has been given credit for.  They are always upgrading and working to improve the experience, and that includes security. I hate that people like this are “quitting facebook” because “it doesn’t give (them) fair choices” and makes it “damn difficult to manage settings” on your profile. HA. I would looooove to see anyone of them make a better website.

I work construction, so I am away from my computer all day long. Every day when I get home, I spend about 45 minutes scrolling through the days news feeds of my friends.  It gives me a great opportunity to check in with friends on a daily basis, friends that it would be hard or next to impossible to check in with over the phone or in person. I can “like” things that they share, comment on their day’s events… or simply just read and observe what is happening in their lives. My facebook friends are people, all important to me and my life in some way or form, some more than others, but none the less important. Some I don’t see very often, but when I do I can pick up right away because I know at least some of what has been happening in their lives. My friends lives are important to me, and that is why I love and appreciate facebook.

There are also side benefits, things that make facebook a great tool… like event planning, or pages, or music promotion.

Like anything, facebook can be abused, and it is always the drama that people focus on. I don’t think enough attention is given to the positives of facebook though, and I truly hope it is around for a long time. I don’t presume it will disappear anytime soon, I think our culture has definitely forever embraced social networking (whether we want to or not).